Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Summary
We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-17- 03, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, - 200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2008-17-03 currently requires repetitive inspections to detect fuselage frame cracking, and corrective action if necessary. AD 2008-17-03 also provides for optional terminating action (repair/preventive change) for the repetitive inspections. Since we issued AD 2008-17-03, we have determined that additional airplanes may be subject to the identified unsafe condition. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability. For the newly added airplanes, however, this proposed AD would not provide terminating action for the repetitive inspections because service information has not been provided for a repair/ preventive change. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fuselage frame cracking, which could prevent the left forward entry door from sealing correctly, and could cause in-flight decompression of the airplane.